The next day at school, Quinn's steps felt heavier as she approached the cafeteria. She scanned the lunch options, her eyes lingering on the greasy pizza slices and the mountain of fries. Normally, she would have chosen the salad bar, carefully selecting only the leanest proteins and lightest dressings. But today, she grabbed a tray and loaded it with two slices of pepperoni pizza, a side of fries, ranch dressing for dipping, and a chocolate milk. The cashier raised an eyebrow but said nothing as Quinn swiped her card and took her seat at the in a lonely corner away from her former teammates.
As she took a bite of the pizza, the cheese stretched out in a warm, salty embrace that coated her mouth. The greasy crust crunched satisfyingly between her teeth, and she savored the burst of flavor that came from the pepperoni. It was a stark contrast to the bland chicken breasts and steamed veggies she had been eating religiously for the team. Each chew felt like a declaration of independence from the strict regimen she had followed. The fries, still hot from the fryer, crackled and melted in her mouth, a symphony of salt and potato. The ranch dressing added a cool, tangy dimension that made her taste buds sing.
Her hunger seemed insatiable as she finished the first slice and reached for the second. The cheese was gooey, the sauce a bit too sweet, but she didn't care. This was a rebellion in food form, and she was indulging every moment of it. Her eyes strayed to the desserts, and she found herself contemplating a cookie, maybe even two. The chocolate milk washed everything down, thick and sweet, leaving a warmth in her chest that she hadn't felt in ages.
The lunch bell rang, signaling the end of her first meal without the team. Quinn felt a pang of loneliness, but she pushed it aside. As she walked past the vending machine, something inside her snapped. She stopped and stared at the rows of candy bars, their shiny wrappers winking at her. Without a second thought, she fished out her change and bought a half dozen of them. The chocolate, the sugar, the calories—it was all calling her name, a siren song of comfort.
As the day wore on, she snuck bites of chocolate between classes, feeling a thrill of rebellion with each chew. Her jeans, usually loose from her strict diet, now felt tight around her waist. But she didn't care. The sugar rush kept her going, carrying her through the endless hours of algebra and biology. By the time the final bell of the day rang, Quinn felt as though she could barely breathe. She waddled to her locker, her stomach protesting with every step. The hallways were a blur of faces, none of which were those of her former teammates. They had all moved on, whispering and pointing as she passed, while she was stuck in this gluttonous limbo. She grabbed her bag and headed for the exit, feeling the weight of the candy bars in her pocket like a brick.
The next few weeks passed in a haze of sugar and carbs. Quinn's once-toned body began to soften, and she found herself needing to sit down more frequently. The stairs, once a breeze, now left her winded and dizzy. She avoided the mirror, not wanting to face the reality of what she had become. Her jeans had gone from snug to unbuttoned, her t-shirts stretching over her burgeoning stomach. Her once-small frame was now thickening in places once free of fat.
One evening, unable to ignore her softening body any longer, Quinn stepped onto the scale in her bathroom. The cold, hard numbers stared back at her: 142 pounds. It was a stark contrast to the 116 pounds she had maintained for the volleyball team. She quickly calculated that she practically gained a pound for each day in September. At this rate, Quinn would be a literal whale by the time summer break rolled around.
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